We came, we ate, we drank

A horrible Sydney wind did not stop thousands heading to Hyde Park on Saturday for the annual AIDS Trust Food and Wine Fair.

About 40,000 people turned up on the day, according to AIDS Trust executive officer Terry Trethowen.

By the end, the attendees had cleaned out food, wine, coffee and beer from 130 stands raising approximately $280,000 for the Trust.

We’re very happy with the way the event went, Trethowen said.

It was not only fantastic food and wine but fantastic entertainment as well.

Trethowen said the success of the event showed it was one of the fixtures on the Sydney social and culinary calendar. He paid tribute to the restaurants and wineries that had donated food and staff to ensure everyone was well fed.

We’re particularly grateful to the restaurateurs of Sydney in what has been an incredibly tough year for them, Trethowen said.

They really rallied around for the cause. And I’d also like to give special thanks to the 145 volunteers who turned up on the day.

The little food left at the end of the day was donated to Woolloomooloo’s Matthew Talbot Hostel.